As the oft-repeated anecdote has it, and as Baltimore Sun writer David Schmuck recounted in a 1995 article, Davey Johnson used to, "... borrow time on the computer system at [Baltimore] Orioles owner Jerry Hoffberger's brewery," so that he could, in Johnson's own words, "... work on this program I called 'Optimizing the Orioles Lineup.'" As Johnson explained it, he, "... would run it through the computer and bring the data to Earl Weaver," who managed Johnson with the O's when the infielder was on the team from 1968-72.

"I found out that if I hit second instead of seventh," Johnson said, "we'd score 50 or 60 more runs and that would translate into a few more wins. I gave it to him, and it went right into the garbage can.'" The way Johnson, who is about to turn 70 on January 30th describes it, and the way Jayson Werth talks, it sounds like the two are a modern day Johnson and Weaver, though the Nats' skipper seems more willing to consider his player's opinion than the late, notoriously churlish Weaver was willing to consider Johnson's.

When D.C. GM Mike Rizzo discussed the Nats' outfield recently, the general manager sounded committed to the idea of Bryce Harper moving to left field with Jayson Werth staying in right now that Denard Span's taking over in center. Rizzo told 106.7 the FAN In D.C.'s Grant Paulsen this weekend in an interview from NatsFest that though Harper might profile better in right down the line it's possible he'll end up playing left in 2013, "... and maybe even probable because you've got an extremely talented and experienced Jayson Werth in right field." The 20-year-old Harper, who spent a lot of time in center last season, Rizzo said, "... needs to learn how to play both left field and right field."